Yesterday, I was confronted by an uncomfortable situation regarding my daughter. I emphasize the word situation, because I was not confronted by uncomfortable people or uncomfortable groups of people. My wife and I both had to be here at Pastor’s School, she to present and me to attend as per my ordination process. What, then, shall we do with our daughter (5mos. old)? When M. was phoned … Continue reading When Safe Sanctuaries hit Home
Dives: Laz’rus’s finger My only eternal hope- My poor, poor brothers. Lazarus: I lost my money to drugs, women and thug life- Yes, I too know hell. Continue reading Lectionary Haikus: Luke 16:19-31
Fired the manager My debtors are now his friends- Impressively screwed I’m too proud to beg But not too proud to cheat, steal- The Precious Lord grins. Continue reading Lectionary Haikus: Luke 16:1-13
I still don’t get this one. The Bible says that Jesus says to make friends through “means of dishonest wealth”. I guess there is wisdom in knowing how to get out of a mess of your own making. I don’t want to make too much of this, but where is the grace? It’s just that this guy didn’t really leave all of his mess behind. … Continue reading Page One: The Lenient Master
This is a tale of 2 churches. But it is not a rant…it is a rave. 9AM–I walk into church, babe in tow. It is not perfect by any means. The parking is small, the entryway dark and cluttered with ladders and rock salt. The plaster needs repaired and there are a few light bulbs that need replaced. I am known there, this is a … Continue reading The Better Church
This is an article I wrote for the WV Annual Conference newspaper: Conversations about the poor health of clergy must go beyond bottom-line institutional statistics. It’s a spiritual matter that must be connected to the gospel itself. The summer after I graduated high school I interned with my pastors, Patricia Jarvis and Julian Sulgit. Every day that summer began with exercise. I walked with Patricia … Continue reading Clergy Health as a Spiritual Matter
Ascension Sunday does not get the credibility it deserves. Ancient Christians were right to lift up this up as important. It is the culmination and conclusion of Jesus’ earthly ministry. But it also feels like an unfinished ending. Jesus rose from the dead, but there is still a lot of kingdom building work to be done. Elijah ascended into heaven with Elisha as his successor. … Continue reading Page One–The Ascension
For understanding– The risen Lord testifies to his witnesses. *** Stay in the city throwing off embarrassment– and they worshiped him Continue reading Haikus–Ascension
On Thursday, I got a case of diarrhea. I’ll spare you the mushy details. As a relatively healthy person, I had not countered this problem before. My life as a preacher complicated the matter. I waited for medicine to work. I went to the doctor who assured me I was not contagious. I recovered slightly on Saturday, enough to think that I was getting over … Continue reading Preaching with Diarrhea
Coming home with Anna was one of the most incredible things, we’ve ever done. It was actually a bit hard to say goodbye to the folks at the Birthing Center at Mon General Hospital. They were just tremendous. I have never been in a place where everyone just loved their job. To the last one, they were enthusiastic yet gentle, knowledgeable yet patient. I have … Continue reading Home Again
